Muslims to move focus to local outreach

Architecture rendering of the Islamic Center on Old Dutchtown Road. The new mosque, designed by Hansen Architects, will be of traditional Middle Eastern design with a minaret. It will have room for 400 or more members praying at the same time.

Editor's Note: This is another in a series of stories assessing the impact of the 9/11 attacks on the fifth anniversary.

Like most Americans, Masood Ahmed was terrorized by the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

A similar kind of terror hit close to home for the Savannah Muslim less than two years later.

On Aug. 24, 2003, arson claimed the makeshift mosque where Ahmed regularly prayed with hundreds of area Muslims.

The effect left the community stunned.

"We never thought it would happen to us," said Ahmed, a local physician and leader of the Islamic Center.

However, no Muslim family left Savannah because of the arson, leaders said. And a ground swell of non-Muslim supporters emerged to offer assistance in the days after the fire.

Today, leaders say the incident strengthened their pride in their faith and their resolve to rebuild a bigger presence in Savannah.

"Hopefully, once the building is finished, we'll be more active in the community," Saad Hammid, a local pediatrician who also serves on the board of the Islamic Center.

Earlier this year, board members had hoped the new $1.8 million, 11,000-square-foot facility would be completed in time for Ramadan, the month-long religious fast that begins this year on Sept. 23.

Construction delays mean the building won't be completed until February.

The new mosque, designed by Hansen Architects, will be of traditional Middle Eastern design with a minaret. It will have room for 400 or more members to pray at the same time.

Muslim leaders say they have much to be grateful for, including the new mosque and signs of an increasingly supportive community.

Once the mosque is completed, leaders hope to use the facility for more community service projects, including a free monthly health clinic and interfaith events.

"There are many things we can do to use the talents of local Muslims to work together," Ahmed said. "That's the only way we're going to bring harmony in our lives and peace in our lives. Our neighbors have to feel comfortable that we're living together."

Recent polls shows Americans may be more receptive to those efforts than five years ago.

A 2005 poll by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life showed that even after the London subway bombings, fewer Americans said Islam is more likely than other religions to encourage violence.

The study of 2,000 adults found that 55 percent say they have a favorable opinion of Muslim Americans. That is roughly the same proportion that expressed positive opinions of Muslim Americans in Pew surveys conducted in July 2003 and March 2002, and significantly higher than the 45 percent holding favorable views in March 2001, before the attacks in New York and Washington.

Almost 40 percent of Americans acknowledge having some prejudice against Muslims, according to a recent USA Today/Gallup Poll. People who had Muslim acquaintances were more likely to show favorable attitudes. Forty-one percent said they personally knew a Muslim.

Getting involved in the community

Savannah's Muslim leaders hope to build on those survey results.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, some have begun speaking at churches and community functions about their faith.

"We do feel it was an isolated incident," Hammid said. "Even though it was a huge thing for us, it was very minimal compared to the support we received from the community afterwards. It was enormous."

Increasing the visibility of Muslims didn't used to be a priority.

Before the arson, the two-bedroom house used as a mosque didn't have a sign at its 1030 Dutchtown Road address.

"We were just practicing our religion," Hammid said. "We didn't go out and get involved as Muslims in our community."

In the weeks leading up to the arson, someone shot up the center's garage doors and left a threatening note in one member's apartment.

According to ATF officials, authorities have no suspects, no new leads and are no longer actively investigating the case.

Some members wondered if they could have prevented the act of hatred if they had been more active as Muslims in public.

"I still feel there is a lack of education about Islam. People have stereotyped thinking," Ahmed said.

"Overall there is some increased profiling," Ahmed said. "For those Muslims who haven't been involved in that, I think they'd say their lives have not changed."